Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship, Advancement

The Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship creates, implements, manages and assesses a comprehensive donor relations strategy that expresses gratitude, illustrates impact and encourages further giving. The scope of work includes donor relations, stewardship, related donor events and communications and with an overall goal of assisting the Advancement team with their fundraising goals. The position reports to the Associate Vice President of Advancement.

Essential Functions:

1. Develops, implements, and leads a successful and integrated donor relations program that strategically targets all levels of giving. Ensures donors are acknowledged and recognized to strengthen their financial support for the University.
2. Responsible for creating timely and appropriate donor correspondence, researching and preparing donor stewardship information through Raiser’s Edge CSM, and assisting Advancement officers with preparing meeting material for donors and/or University leaders.
3. Work closely with the Strategic Communications Director to facilitate donor communication through mail and e-mail correspondence. This may include, but not be limited to, endowment reports, gift acknowledgements, invitations, newsletter updates, fundraising campaign materials, pledge reminders and tribute notifications.
4. Plan and collaborate with the events management team to execute donor engagement and recognition events that show gratitude and appreciation to donors. Manage and coordinate any campaign-related kick-offs and donor recognition or engagement events. Ensure that donor special events are communicated and added to the calendars of the appropriate officials and targeted guests.
5. Create innovative and leading-edge programs to acknowledge, engage and steward donors; ensure the external reporting to donors on endowments.
6. Work in collaboration with the Office of Annual Giving to implement an effective stewardship strategy for Lipscomb’s annual Day of Giving.
7. Responsible for creating timely and appropriate donor correspondence, researching and preparing donor stewardship plans, and assisting Advancement officers with preparing meeting material for donors and/or University leaders.
8. May supervise staff and student workers.
9. Tracks donor relations and stewardship activities in the established databases to enhance relationships and increase the likelihood of continued contributions.  
10. Responsible for the review and control of all gift acknowledgments, including receipts, thank you letters, pledge reminders, tribute notifications and annual endowment reports.

11. Works closely with Advancement staff and other campus leaders to report to donors on the use of gifts, to arrange meetings between donors and beneficiaries if appropriate, and to help celebrate gifts.

12. Manages AWL scholarship process, working closely with chapter presidents, student recipients and Financial Aid during the awarding process.

Qualification Standards:

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree required and a minimum of 3 years of experience in Advancement and/or Donor Relations with an educational institution or non-profit, preferred.
2. Successful experience: Specific experience stewarding and cultivating donors and alumni is a plus.
3. Other preferences: Experience with Raiser’s Edge CRM, Blackbaud Scholarship manager and Gratavid.